Riveting machine



@cui EL c. W. SlNcLAlR RIVETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 3l, 1933. c w. slNcLAlR RIVETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C//H/PL EJ WAS/ncl. mm

ATToRNEY.

M www? MMP Oct. 3l, 1933. c. w. slNcLAlR RIVETING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1930 INVENTOR. C/fHWLL-'S M Such/m. BY s ATTORNE Patented @etr` 31, 1933 ,RIVETING MACHINE Charles W. Sinclair, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Corporation,

Detroit,

' Mich., a corporation of New York Application August 18, 1930. Serial No. 476,195

18 Claims.

rThis invention relates generally to riveting machines and refers more particularly to apparatus for riveting the spokes of vehicle Wire wheels.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a machine for the purpose specified above capable of more expediently riveting the spokes of a Wire wheel in place-with the minimum amount of manual attention, thereby mai terially expediting production and appreciably reducing the cost of manufacture.

The invention provides for Yexpediting production and reducing the cost of manufacture by introducing a machine having mechanism auto- Ymatically operable to rivet a plurality of spokes simultaneously, together with means for indexing the wheel assembly for automatically and -suc-` cessively advancing the spokes opposite theriveting punches.

Another novel feature or this invention which contributes materially to the reduction in cost'of manufacture as well as facilitating production resides in the provision oi a plurality of wheel supporting standards designed to support a corresponding number of wire wheel assemblies and mounted upon the machine for movement independent oi each other, into and out of operative relation with the machine to alternatively position the wheel assemblies supported thereby in registration with the riveting means. The foregoing construction is such that while the spokes of one wheel are being riveted by .the apparatus, another wheel assembly to be operated upon is set up upon another standard with result that the latter may be immediately moved into operative position as soon as the succeeding wheel is completed. Thus, it will be seenv that with the present invention the riveting operation is substantially continuous since practically notime is ce lost in setting Yup the work. l

With the foregoing as well as other objects in view, the invention resides rin the novel details of construction which will be made Vmore apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical sectionalview through a machine constructed in accordance with this invention. K

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the ie 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional viewV taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure l.

Figure i is a fragmentary top'planv view partly in sectionof the wheel supporting structure.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe line 5-5 of Figure 1.

The riveting machine forming the subject matter of this invention is designed to rivet the outer ends of wire spokes of a. vehicle Wire Wheel having a rim l0 and a hub shell 11 arranged concentric with the rim. The hub shell is provided with a barrel 12 having an inner axially extending section 13 spaced inwardly from the rear end portions of the shell and provided with an inwardly extending flange 14 serving to attach the Wheel assembly to the inner wheel hub (not shown). The front and rear portions of the. hub shell are provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings for receiving the 70 inner .ends of the front and rear spokes which serve to connect the hubk shell to the rim. The front spokes extend from the rear edge of the rim base to the forward end of the shell, while the rear spokes 15 extend'from the front edge of the rim to the rear end of the shell. The Tear spokes are provided With semi-spherical heads at the inner ends .adapted to engage correspondingly spaced seats formed in the hub shell barrel adjacent the rear end portion thereof. IThe outer end portions of the rear spokes on the other hand, are provided with annular shoulders 16 adapted to engage the base `of theA rim and are further provided with tenons 1.7 having their axes inclined to the axes of the spokes so as to extend radially through thezbase of `the rim. In this connection it shouldbe understood that the semi-spherical enlargements on the inner ends of the spokes and the annular shoulders adjacent the outer ends thereof are at iixed distances apart With the resultthat when therenlargements and vshoulders engage the hub shell and rim, respectively, concentricity of the latter is insured. The rear spokes are arranged' in pairs with the spokes of eachk pair extending outwardly from the hub shell to the rim and crossing intermediate their ends. n

The machine illustrated herein rcomprises generally a pair of standards A and Bhavingmeans for supporting and clamping a pair of wire wheel assemblies thereon in substantially a horizontal plane. Each of the standards A and 'B are hingedly' mounted upon opposite sidesof the frame for swinging movement in substantially a horizontal plane and are adapted to be moved alternatively into operative position with the riveting punches and spoke clamping means ,to be more fully hereinafter described. lThelsupporting; and clamping means upon each standard for the'wire Wheel assemblies operate independent of each other to clamp the wire wheels in position with the result that when the standard A is in operative position with the machine, as shown in Figure 4, a wheel assembly to be operated upon may be set up upon the standard B. rShe arrangement is such that when all of the spokes upon the wheel assembly carried by the standard A have been riveted, the latter standard may be swung to inoperative position and the wheel assembly supported by the standard B immediately moved into operative position. During the time required to rivet the spokes of the wheel supported on the standard B, the operator is free to remove the finished wheel from the standard A and assemble another wheel to be operated upon with the standard so that the latter can be immediately moved into operative position as soon as the wheel on the standard Bhas been completed. Thus, it will be observed that byV reason of the above construction, production is materially facilitated since practically no time is lost in setting up the work and moving the same into operative relation with the machine.

In order to expedite the riveting operation and thereby further facilitate production, the riveting mechanism illustrated generally by the reference character C is designed to rivet a pair of spokes simultaneously. The riveting mechanism comprises a pair of radially movable punches D and E so arranged with respect to each other as to engage the outer ends of a'pair of spokes and simultaneously rivet thesame to the rim. The punches D and E are mounted for movement lin a substantially horizontal plane toward and away from the rim as a unit and are adapted to be actuated in timed relation to the indexing mechanism F for intermittently rotating the wheels carried by the standards A and B to sucl cessively position each pair of spokes in operative relation to the punches.

In order to prevent bending of the spokes during the riveting operation, I provide a pair of spoke gripping jaws G movable in a plane substantially transverse to the plane of movement of the punches and adapted to grip the spokes adjacent the enlargements formed thereon for urging the latter against the inner face of the rim during the riveting operation. The grippingjaws G are operated in timed relation to the operation of both the riveting punohesand wheel assembly so as to move into clampingengagement with a pair of spokes subsequent to movement of the wheel assembly to position the paii1 of spokes opposite the riveting punches and prior to the actuation of the punches to rivet the ends of the spokes. v

In detail, the riveting machine illustrated herein is adapted for use in connection with a conventional type of punch press and comprises a base 20 having a substantially horizontal support 2l upon which the riveting punches D and E are slidably mounted for movement axially of the spokes of theY wheel and in a substantially horizontal plane. The punches D and E are slidably mounted within a pair of blocks 22 which in turn are rigidly secured within recesses 23 formed in the inner ends of the die blocks 24. The latter are slidably mounted upon the gibs 25 carried by the support 21 and so arranged as to compel movement of the blocks 24 radially of the axis of the wheel assembly to be operated upon. The blocks 22 are secured within the recesses 23 of the die blocks 24 in spaced. relation'to the walls 25' of the latter which are'inclined rearwardly as shown in Figure 1. Disposed Within the space between the blocks 22 and walls 25 are suitable wedge members 26 having substantially vertical walls 27 adjacent the outer walls of the blocks 22 and engaging the outer ends of the punches D and E. The outer walls of the wedge members 26 on the hand are inclined at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the walls 25 and are slidably engageable therewith so as to provide an efficient and adjustable backing for the punches. The construction is such that movement of the wedge members 26 upon the inclined side walls 25', hereinbefore described, effects a longitudinal movement of the front wall of the wedge members and since this wall engages the inner ends of the punches, the latter are adjusted relative to the blocks 22. The wedge members 26 are normally held in engagement with the outer ends of the punches by means of suitable clamps 29 having spaced cam surfaces 30 and 3l, respectivelyl engaging the blocks 24 and wedgeshaped members 26. The clamps are preferably secured to the die blocks 24 by means of threaded elements 32 having head portions engaging the top surface of the clamps and having shank portions extending through clamps intermediate the cam surfaces thereof and threadedly engaging the blocks 24. The punches D and E are normally held from axial movement relative to the blocks 22 by means of suitable set screws 33 threadedly engaging the blocks and having the lower ends engaging suitable inwardly inclined surfaces 34 on the punches D and E. Thus, it will be seen that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, the punches D and E are prevented from outward movement by engagement with the inner walls of the wedge members 26 and are prevented from inward movement by means of the set screws 33 engaging the cam surface 34.

For actuating the punches D and E, I provide a vertically reciprocable head 35 operatively connected to a suitable punch press (not shown) and having a pair of cam members 36 secured to the'under surface thereof as at 37 and projecting downwardly therefrom. The cam members 36 are identical in construction and are provided with cam surfaces 38 at the inner sides thereof adapted to engage suitable rollers 39 carried by the die blocks 24 adjacent the outer ends thereof. The cam surfaces 38 are designed to engage the rollers 39 upon downward movement of the head 35 and move the die blocks inwardly radially of the axis of the wheel to engage the punches D and E, carried by the blocks, with the outer ends of a pair of the vehicle wheel spokes. Outward movement of the die blocks 24 and punches D and E carried thereby isieected by means of pins 39 carried by the outer ends of the die blocks 24 and engageable within suitable recesses 40 formed in the cam members 36. The recesses 40 coliform to the shapeof the cam surfaces 38 so that upon upward movement of the holder 35 and cam 36, the inner walls 4l of the recesses engage the pins 39 and owing to the inclination of the walls 4l, as shown in Figure 1, the pins 39 will be moved outwardly and since the pins are carried by the die blocks 24, the latter will be moved in corresponding directions to inoperative positions. The cam members 36 are accurately guided throughout their movement by means of rollers 41 carried by a stationary part of the machine and engageable with the outer surfaces of the cam members 36. As previously stated, both the cam members 36 are identical in construction with the result that the die blocks 24 are actuated simultaneously to engage the 1,932,806 punches D and E with the'spokes of the wheel spokes of the wheel vassembly while the block 43V is varranged below the spokes lof the wheel assembly in alignment with the block LlZ-and cooperates with the latter to engage a lpair of spokes for a substantial l.distance inwardly of the rim member le of the wheelassembly; As will'be observed from Figure l, the clamping'block 43does'enot die rectly engage*thespokes'ole4 the wheelassembly, on the otherehand actuatesa suitable rocker 45 pivotally mounted-as-at-46to a stationary part of the machine at a point spaced outwardly from the plane or" movementy of the die blocks 42land 43. rihe inner end lofthe rocker 45 is provided with an upwardly extending projecting portion 47 adapted to project through suitableslots 48 formed in the supportinggmember 49 forvthe wheel assembly to be more fully hereinafter set forth. rhe above construction is such that move= nt of the block 43 upwardly causes a correspondingmovement of the rocker 45' to extend the projection 47 through theslot- 48 intoengagementy with a pair of thespokes of -the wheel assembly. When, ontheotherhand-the block 43 is in its lowerinost position, ti eprojection 4i' on the rocker 45 assumes a position below thesupporting member 49 so asnot to interfere vwith rotation thereof to position the spokes of the wheel assembly opposite thepunches D and E; In to compel the rocker-45 to followrtlie` block 43 duingf movement thereof, the latter provided with a suitable pin 50 having a portion' engaging within a slot'lV 1ormed in the free end of the rocker 45; Frou 'tl e foregoing, it will be seen that the block 43 engages the free end of the rocker y45 to move the same into engagement with the spokes, thereby materially increasing the leverage with the result that the'spokes are clamped by the blocks with a relatively great force.

For moving the blocks 42 and 43 toward each other to rigidly cla'np a pair of spokestherebetween, provide a pair of levers 52 and 53 pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof upon suitable shafts 54 carried by the frame of the machine, The Lnner ends of the levers 52 and 58 engage respectively within suitable recessesV forme-d in the blocks 42 and 43, while the outer ends of the levers 52 and 53' are provided withV spaced rollers 55 and 55 adapted to engage opposite sides of the double acting cam members 57. The double acting cam'niembe'rs 57'are rigidly secured to a plate 58inounted for oscillation in a substantially vertical plane about the shaft '59'. The disposition of the cam members 57'upon the plate 5S is accurately determined'and the opposed cam surfaces 5G and 6l of each cam inember 57 for respectively engaging the rollers 55 and 55 are so designed, that movement of the plate 5S in a clockwise direction causes the lever 52' to ove in a counter-clockwise direction and the -ever in clockwise direction about the shafts 54 and thereby causes the clamping blocks 42 and to move toward each other for rigidly cla-inping a pair of spokes of the wheel assembly.v When, on the other hand, the plate`58` is moved f through the axis of.

inV a counter-clockwise direction, the lever 52 is caused to move in -a counterclockwise direction and the lever 58 in a clockwise direction about the shafts 54 with the result that the inner ends of the levers will be moved away from each other vcausing the clamping blocks 42 and 43to move to vtheir inoperative positions.

The plate 58 is actuated by the vertically reciprocable head 35 by means of an adjustable tie rod 52 having the upper end thereof pivotallyY connected to the head 35 and the lower endv .pivotally connected to a lug 68' projecting beyond the outer edge of the plate 58. While the punches- D "and E and clamping blocks 42 and 43 are both actuated by the head 85, it should be understood that the operative connections, previously described, between the punches, spoke clamping means and head 35 are so designed that the clamping blocks function to rigidly clamp a'pair of spokes in position priorto the operation of the punches D and E to rivet the spokes.- In other words, the construction is such that upon initial downward movement of the head 35 the plate 58 is oscillated about the shaft 59 to move the clamping means G in clamping engagement with a pair of spokes of the wheel assembly. Continued downward movement of the head 35 registers the cam surfaces 38 with the rollers 39'to move the punches radially inwardly into engage-- ment with` the outer ends of the spokes as pre-- viously set forth.

Referring now more in detail to the particular construction of the standards A and B,`previous ly' described, for alternatively positioning wheel assemblies in operative` relation with the rivet@- ing punches and clamping means, it will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that thestandards A and B are carried by thefree ends of a pair of'arms 85 having the opposite ends pivotally connected as at 66 to the frame of the machine upon opposite sides ofv the same for swinging movement in a substantially Ahorizontal pla .e.

The configuration of the arms is such and the tothe frame is so determined that when the arms are moved inwardlyto operative position, a line drawn through the axes of the pivots 56 the standard in operative pcsition'. The standards are preferably tubular in shape and project through a slot 6'? in the base 20 of the machine as clearly shown in Figures i and v2. f

Journaledwithin the tubular standards Aand B and'movable therewith are suitable drive shafts 68`having their lower ends adapted tobe op atively connected to the indexing mechanism F and having the upper ends thereof securedto the supports 49 which are journaled upon the upperA ends of the sleeve-like standards A and by means of the roller bearings 69. The supports 49 are preferably circular and are provided at the periphery thereof with a plurality upwardly ektending pins 70 arranged circumferentially.

and adapted to engage the 'tire retaining flanges vupon the rims .1.8 of the wheel assemblies to support the same. T le supports 49 for the wheel assemblies are further `prcwided with annular upwardly extending projections 71 adapted to ene gage the rear annular upon the hub shells ll for positioning the latter concentric with' the` rims i0.

The hub shells 11 of the wheel assemblies are rigidly clamped upon each of the standards by means of chucks '72 having hub portions'l journaled upon shafts 74 extending upwardly from the supports 49 co-axially therewith. The chucks 72 are adapted to engage the rear ends of the inner hub shell parts 13 and are provided with tapered annular surfaces 75 adapted to engage the inner spherical portions of the spokes for clamping the same to the hub shells. The chuck 72 of each standard is preferably operated by fiuid pressure through the intermediary of a fiuid cylinder and piston assembly (not shown) adapted to be secured to the lower ends of each standard. The arrangement is such that the clamping means carried by each standard may be operated independent of the other to rigidly clamp the wheel assemblies in position upon the standards. The wheel assemblies are positioned circumferentially relative to the punching and clamping mechanisms by means of a suitable device 77 secured to each of the supports 49 and having a projection 78 engageable within the valve stem holes formed in the base portions of the vehicle rims 10. The devices 77 function to initially position the wheel assemblies circumferentially upon the supports 49 so that upon predetermined step-by-step movements of the support 49, pairs of spokes of the wheel assemblies Will be successively moved into operative position relative to the clamping and punching means hereinbefore described. Thus, from the foregoing it will be observed that the wheel assemblies are supported upon each of the standards in a substantially horizontal plane and concentricity of the rims and hub shells of the Wheel assemblies is insured, since the spokes are all of a fixed length and the chuck 72 engages the inner spherical portions of the spokes to clamp the same to the inner surfaces of the hub shells, while the clamps G engage the spokes inwardly from the shoulders on the outer ends thereof for clamping the said shoulders into engagement with the base portions of the rims.

For rotating the wheel assemblies by a step-bystep -movement to accurately position each pair of spokes of the Wheel assemblies in alignment with the punches D and E and as a consequence, in a position to be engaged by the clamping means G, any suitable indexing mechanism may be employed, but as shown herein, I provide indexing mechanism commonly known in the trade as Geneva movement. The Geneva gearing employed herein comprises a pair of star wheels 78 secured to the lower end portions of each of the shafts 68 and adapted to mesh with the cooperating driving and locking wheel 79 which is driven from the source of power by means of the gearing designated generally by the reference character 80. The actuating wheel 79 is rotated in timed relation to the operation of the punches and clamping means so that the spokes of the wheel assemblies will be accurately positioned relative to the punches and clamping means prior to the operation thereof.

The actuating wheel 79 is provided with a locking member 81 adapted to conform to the semicircular recesses 82 in the star Wheel teeth 83 for locking the star wheel against movement until the pin 84 on the wheel 79 engages within the slots 85 between the teeth 83 at which time the star wheel will be advanced a predetermined distance depending upon the dimension of the teeth. The extent of rotation of the star wheel is determined by the location of the spokes of the wheel assembly and is so selected that when the star wheel rotates the distance of one tooth, a pair of spokes will be advanced to operative position.

In order to insure accurate positioning of the standards A and B relative to the machine, the former are adjustably mounted upon the free ends of the arms 65. In detail, each of the standards is provided with an outwardly extending projection 86 slidably engaging the outer end portions of the arms 65. Accurate adjustment of the standards is eected by suitable threaded elements 87 threadedly engaging an upwardly extending projection 88 on the arms 65 and operatively connected as at 89 to the outer ends of the projections 86. The standards are prevented from accidental disengagement from the machine by means of a suitable latch member 90 pivotally connected at the outer end thereof to a stationary part of the machine as at 91 and having the inner end thereof engageable with the upwardly extending projections 88 on the arms 65.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that each of the standards A and B operate entirely independent of each other to. operatively clamp a wheel assembly in place and are each capable of being independently swung as a unit from operative positon with the machine to points spaced from the machine. Thus, it will be seen that when one of the standards is in operative position with the machine and during the time the wheel assembly supported thereby is being operated upon, the other standard may be manipulated to clamp another wheel assembly in place. The construction is such that when the wheel assembly supported by the standard A has been completed, -the operator merely manipulates the latch 90 and moves the standard A into inoperative position. As the standard A is being swung to inoperative position, the standard B may be swung to operative position with the result that practically no time is lost in feeding the work to the machine. In this connection it is to be noted that inward movement of the standards A and B toward operative position is limited by engagement of the outer ends of the arms 65 with the frame i4 of the machine as indicated by the reference character 92.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base and riveting means supported by the base and operable to secure parts of the wheel assembly together, of means for supporting a plurality of Wheel assemblies from the base independent of each other for rotation about their axes and with the portions thereof to be riveted in the plane of movement of the riveting means, means for mounting the supporting means upon the base permitting swinging movement of the wheel assemblies toward and from the machine for alternatively registering the same with said riveting means and means operable upon movement of the supporting means into operative relation to the riveting means for indexing the wheel assembly on said supporting means to po sition the portions of the assembly to be riveted opposite the riveting means.

2. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base and riveting means supported by the base and operable to secure parts of the wheel assembly together, of a plurality of supporting devices each having means for rotatvrimtovoperative relation to the riveting meanswfor, fperiodically rotating the VWheel assembly .to .posi-: n

v. in registration with `,the .riveting means, `and means operable upon movement.A zof .the wheel Vassembly into operative relationship` tothe-rivet- :tion theportions to beriveted opposite said-,riveting i-means.

. .13.;v In arivetingf. machine for vehicle Wheels,.

the combination with a base and riveting means supported thereby for riveting parts of the Wheel reassembly' together, of a plurality of supportingH sdevices-.each having means for clamping a Wheel N-assembly. lthereto with the part to be riveted Vin .ivthefplane of movementi'of the riveting-means, ..means.pivotallyconnecting .each of said devices .cto theebase permitting .the devices to be moved independent of each other relative tothema- `l5 chine and.therebyipermitting the Wheel assem- :blies-supported thereby to be alternatively regisstered with the riveting means, indexing mech- -..the spokes to lbe rivetedain the plane of .the riveting means :for registration z therewith, and

anismcarried vby the base and cooperating in- :rdexing means carried by each of said devices A2c adaptedltc register with the indexing mechanism L.aforesaid for rotating the Wheel assemblies with l atstep-,by-step movement.

ein a .riveting machine Vfor vehicle Wheels, the combination With a base and riveting means .-zssupported by the base for riveting partsof the Wheelassemoly together, of a pluralityof wheel assembly supporting devices mounted upon the .base forv swinging movement independent of each .Mother `toward and from the riveting means to .30 alternatively position the Wheel assemblies sup- Vported thereon in operative relation with the riveting means, independently operable means associated with each device for rotatably clamping asv/heel assembly. .thereon in a position to be ,g5 registered with the riveting means whereby a wheel assembly maybe assem led upon one of said .de ces during the time another Wheel assembly; ier-being operated upon, means for periodically rotating Ythe Wheel assembly being-cpv ,4cieratedwupcn by the riveting means to index the ,-vsaideassembly, and means carried by a fixed part v:ofthe-machine for clamping the parts of the wheel assembly to-be riveted during the interval y=of rest of said assembly.

. 5. In a riveting machine 'for Wire Wheels, the combination. Witha base rand riveting means -supported thereby for riveting the spokes of the Wheeliassembly to the rim member of the wheel .,assembly, `of a plurality of supporting vdevices `eachl having independently operable means'for :clamping a Wheel assembly thereto with the hub imemberfthereor in concentric relation to the rim member of the same and with the outer ends of thespokes to be riveted in the plane of .move- -ment of vthe riveting means, means hingedly connecting each of said devices to the base permitting-independent swinging movement thereof;y relative to the machine and thereby permitting the Wheel assemblies supported .thereby to be alternatively registered with the riveting means,v infdexing mechanism carried by the base and cooperating indexing means carried by each ,of the .devices-adapted to register with the indexing -mechanism aforesaid for automatically indexing ft-he Wheel assemblies when in operative relationv .with the riveting means to successively advance the spokes in registration. With the. riveting means. Y Y

6.*-In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination With a base and riveting means Vsupportedyby the base for riveting parts .of a Wheel assembly together, of a plurality of independent supportingdevices mounted for movement alternatively into and out of operative relation with the riveting means, means associated -port with the spokes tof-be riveted inthe plane lof the riveting means for-registration therewith,

with .eachof said :devicesffor rotatably. supporting a Wheel assembly .with-the'partsto.be. riveted 88 ing. .means for indexing` :said: Vassembly to .suc-

-.cessively bring. the. parts :thereof .to A`be :riveted @means supported by the vbase forfriveting. the

spokes of the Wheel assembly toz-the riznmember of the wheel:,assemloly,of a plurality of A supporting: devices mounted for movement alternatively into.andoutrofoperative relation with the rivet-v ing means and each oisaiddeviceshaving smeans forrotatablysupporting a wheel assembly with carried-by said supportingY devices.

8. In a riveting machine for vvehicle wire Wheels, the combination-with a'baseand riveting means supported by the vbase for riveting spokes of a Wheel assemblyy to the rim member` of the Wheel assembly, of a supporting device mounted for movement into andout of operative relationv with the riveting rmeans, means 4for rotatably supporting a .-wheel'assenibly onl the sup- .ico

and indexing mechanism for thev Wheel having cooperating lseparable-parts carried respectively by the base and supporting device and engageable for indexing the wheel upon movement-of.- the support into operative relation With the riveting means.

9. In a riveting machine Afor vehicle Wire Wheels, the combination with a-base-andriveting means'supportedby the base for riveting spokes 1 of a Wheel assembly .to the rim.member.of the Wheel assembly, of a plurality of supporting devices mounted for `movement into vand out-.of operative relation with the riveting means .and each, of said deviceshaving means for rotatablysupporting a Wheel assembly .With .the spokes to 1 be riveted in the plane of the rivetingmeans for registration therewith, indexing mechanism for the Wheel assemblies having cooperating separable parts carried respectively by the base 'andig supporting devicesaforesaid, and means for .adjusting the Wheelassembliesvr relative to the supporting device to insure 'proper'positioning'of the Wheel assemblies relative to theriveting means.

10. In a riveting machine for Wire-wheels, the ,139 combination with a base, of means for' supporting a Wheel assembly fromA the base, meanszfor simultaneously riveting a plurality'of .spokes of lthe Wheel assembly Vto the rim member'fthereof including a plurality of radially movable punches, f means for gripping the spokes prior to the riveting operation including a pair of members mounted for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the punches, a reciprocable head having cam surfaces for simulta neously actuating the punches, and means also .actuated by said head yforoperating: the gripping means aforesaid in timed relation to the operation of saidfpunches.

11. VIn a riveting machine rfor wire wheels. the combination with a base; of means `for' supportring a wheel assembly :from the .basepmeansrfor simultaneously riveting a pluralityvlofspokes of the Wheel assembly to the rim member thereof including a plurality of radially movable punches, 1,56

means for gripping the spokes prior to the riveting operation including a pair of members mounted for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the punches, a reciprocable head having cam surfaces for simultaneously actuating the punches, and means for actuating the gripping means in timed relation to the punches including an oscillatable cam operatively connected to the head for actuation thereby.

12. In a riveting machine for wire wheels, the combination with a base, of means for supporting a wheel assembly from the base, means for riveting a `spoke of the wheel assembly to the rim member thereof including a radially movable punch device, means for gripping the spoke prior to the riveting operation including a pair of cooperating clamping members, a reciprocable head having a cam surface engageable with the punch device for actuating the same, an oscillatable cam member having cam surfaces for operating the cooperating members aforesaid, and a connection between the oscillatable cam and head for actuating the cam in timed relation to the movement of the head for operating the punch device.

13. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base, a frame member fixed relative to the base and riveting means supported by the base for riveting parts of a wheel assembly together, of a plurality of wheel assembly supporting devices mounted upon the base for movement independent of each other toward and from the riveting means to alternatively position the wheel assemblies carried thereby in operative relationship to the riveting means, means for clamping a wheel assembly to each of said devices permitting rotation of the wheel assemblies about their axes, means operable upon movement of said devices into operative relation with the riveting means for indexing the wheel assemblies to successively position the portions thereof to be riveted opposite the riveting means, and means carried by the fixed lframe member and engageable with the portions of the wheel assemblies to be riveted during the interval of rest of the latter for clamping the portions aforesaid thereof in position opposite the riveting means.

14. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base, a frame member fixed relative to the base, and riveting means supported by the base for riveting parts of the wheel assembly together, of a wheel assembly supporting device mounted upon the base for movement into and out of operative relation to the riveting means, means for rotatably supporting a wheel assembly upon said device in a position whereby movement of the device into operative relation with the riveting means registers the parts to be riveted oi said assembly with the riveting means, and opposed clamping members slidably mounted upon said xed frame member for clamping the parts of the wheel assembly to be riveted therebetween prior to the riveting operation.

15. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base, a frame member iixed relative to the base and riveting means supported by the base for riveting parts of the wheel assembly together, of a wheel assembly supporting device mounted upon the base for swinging movement into and out of operative relation with the riveting means, means associated with the device for rotatably clamping a wheel assembly thereto in a position whereby movement [of the device into operative relation with the riveting means registers the parts to be riveted with said riveting means, means operable upon positioning the wheel assembly into operative relation with the riveting means for periodically rotating the wheel assembly to index the same, means mounted upon the fixed frame member and operable during the interval of rest of the wheel assembly and in timed relation to the riveting means for clamping the parts of the wheel assembly to be riveted.

16. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination of a base having an upright member provided with an opening therethrough and means for riveting parts of the wheel assembly together including a punch mounted upon one side of the fixed frame member in registration with the opening therethrough, a wheel assembly supporting device mounted upon the base on the opposite side of the upright frame member for movement into and out of operative relation with the riveting means, means for clamping a wheel assembly to the device in a position wherein the portions of the wheel assembly to be riveted lie in a plane common to the plane of the punch and wherein a portion of the wheel assembly extends through said opening when the device is moved in operative relation to the riveting means, and means arranged on the same side of the upright member as said punch for clamping the parts to be riveted prior to the punching operation.

17. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination of a base having an upright portion provided with an opening therethrough, means supported upon one side of the upright portion in registration with the opening therethrough for riveting parts of the wheel assembly together, a Wheel assembly supporting device mounted upon the base on the opposite side of the upright portion for movement into and out of operative relation to the riveting means, means for rotatably clamping a wheel assembly to said device ina position wherein the parts to be riveted lie in a common plane with the riveting means and wherein a portion of the wheel assembly extends through the opening upon movement of the device in operative relation to the riveting means, means for indexing the wheel assembly, and means arranged upon the same side of the upright portion as the riveting means for clamping the parts to be riveted prior to the operation of said riveting means.

18. In a riveting machine for vehicle wheels, the combination with a base and riveting means supported by the base for riveting parts of the wheel assembly together, of a plurality of wheel v assembly supporting devices mounted upon the base for movement independent of each other toward and from the riveting means to alternatively position the Wheel assemblies supported thereby in operative relation with the riveting means, means for rotatably clamping a wheel asfor indexing each wheel assembly when the same is in operative relationship to the riveting means.

CHARLES W. SINCLAIR. 

